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I am a farm management researcher working in the Future Farming Systems Group. I am interested in using an holistic and multidisciplinary approach to improve understanding of how farmers manage the multiple risks they encounter. The management decisions that farmers make can be complex and multifaceted, for example effects on the landscape as well as food production. Thus, it is important not to study individual decisions in isolation as in many cases a decision choice can have an impact on the whole farm business. Decisions about animal welfare are of particular interest as a result of my
The aim of this RD is to assess the environmental sustainability of different sectors of the rural economy and identify trade-offs and opportunities for the production and use of bio-materials in a circular economy. The key drivers for this research are policies for the circular economy and zero waste domains.
The aim of this RD is to improve understanding of recent and anticipated adaptive responses to environmental change, policy drivers and market shifts. This will identify processes of innovation, diversification and collaborative action in agricultural household adjustment and assess future influences on the adaptive capacity of segments of the agriculture sector.
The aim of this RD is to address how well Scotland’s rural industries (e.g. farming, forestry and tourism) can cope with outside pressures such as price volatility, new trade agreements and changes in government policies. The key drivers for this research are: There are concerns about the long-term viability of some rural businesses due to their lack of profitability. There are concerns about rural poverty and environmental damage that can be caused by poor land management practices. It is recognised that for all the key pressures on rural industries there will be either more volatility
Disease mechanisms: The aim of this work is to provide increased understanding of how pathogens (viruses, bacteria and parasites) interact with their host to cause disease. This new knowledge will underpin the development of next-generation control strategies for a range of infectious diseases of importance to livestock production both nationally and internationally. A broad range of questions will be addressed, with a particular focus on the role of the livestock host immune system in the disease process, the identification of new diagnostic markers of disease and the mechanisms involved in
Disease has a detrimental effect on animal health and welfare and causes substantial losses in production. In order to assess the effectiveness of control measures and determine their economic impact, a quantification of the level of disease and/ or health status is needed. This research aims to provide improved baseline measurements of disease and health status (current and future) as well as cost-effective biosecurity management tools through investigating specific areas: estimates of health status and disease prevalence by optimising the use of data already available; the application of
Our aim is to provide an evidence base for advice to farmers on the best approaches to improve the welfare of their animals. Guided by Scottish Government (RESAS) priorities, our work covers two specific areas, covering 4 species of commercial importance: The management of feeding in pregnant breeding animals (sows and beef cattle) to optimise the health, welfare and production of the mother and her offspring. Reducing pain in two species: In laying hens – investigating housing methods to improve welfare by reducing the need for beak trimming; and in lambs reducing the need for, and
Research interests: •My major area of work since joining SRUC has been on verocytotoxigenic E. coli O157, with particular responsibility for field work in this area. Together with colleagues at the ERU and with consortium partners from other institutions, I am currently writing up the results of a prevalence survey of E. coli O157 among British farms that produce cattle intended for the food chain. •I am interested in antimicrobial usage and resistance and how the livestock industry can approach the challenges presented by resistance whilst maintaining animal health and welfare, as well as
My research uses animal behaviour as a way to measure animal welfare, or to understand and solve animal welfare problems which involve behaviour. Behaviour-related welfare problems in pigs: social aggression, tail biting and mounting, and genetics of animal temperament in relation to these problems. Hunger in ration-fed animals (dry sows and broiler breeder chickens). Using behaviour, motivation, neurophysiology and gut physiology to understand, measure and ameliorate the problem. Precision livestock farming- collaborating to develop and validate agri-technology such as machine vision cameras